April 13, 1979

WHEN James Duncombe drove to victory in a west Germany "rally" several weeks ago, he wasn't behind the wheel of a highly modified saloon car.

Instead, the ex-Bridley Moor High School pupil was at the control of a half-ton army Land Rover.

Only the event was not any ordinary rally for James was attached to the MT troop of the Third Armoured Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment in the Rhine Army and was representing his unit in "Exercise Motto Frenzy".

The exercise was staged to help improve driving and military skills. James, who lives in Birchfield Road, has been in the army for five years and during that time he has visited Holland, Belgium and Canada.

But it is not surprising he came first in the Paderborn test. His hobby is rallying.